Adaptation · written by Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman · 2002

Charlie calls Donald to congratulate him and invites him to help in New York.

Scene 183 of 202 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Last scene of act two

Kaufman
Donald

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:33 into a 1:57 film

The story so farBefore scene 183

Unable to find a conventional story in The Orchid Thief, screenwriter Charlie Kaufman turns his own crisis into an increasingly self-referential adaptation.

Scenes 1–9
Charlie inhabits an isolated, self-condemning world while Orlean’s book supplies a distant model of obsession.
Scenes 10–88
Charlie wants to write honestly and make flowers matter, while also longing to be desired and understood.
Scenes 89–105
He leaves his familiar writing room and goes to Florida to search for the story firsthand.
Scenes 106–126
The swamp is ordinary, Orlean’s research fails, and Charlie experiments with increasingly personal versions of the book.
Scenes 127–144
Charlie finds a way to focus the material by putting himself in it, then commits to meeting Orlean.
Just before
Scene 180
Charlie catches McKee outside and begs to discuss his story and his human choices.
Scene 181
Laroche and Orlean find the road out of the swamp by following a gleam of metal.
Scene 182
Charlie admits his faithful version has no movie ending, and McKee tells him the last act makes the film.
Scene 183
This scene

183INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

A drunken Kaufman paces, tries to read Story. McKee's Ten Commandments are taped to the wall. As is a photo of Michelle Pfeiffer ripped from a magazine.

KAUFMAN (V.O.)

Climax. A revolution in values from

positive to negative or negative to

positive with or without irony -- a value

swing at maximum charge that's absolute

and irreversible.

Kaufman is lost. He rubs his temples. He dials the phone.

DONALD (PHONE VOICE)

Great writers residence.

KAUFMAN

Donald.

DONALD (PHONE VOICE)

Hey, how's the trip? Gettin' it on with

that lady journalist? You dog you!

KAUFMAN

Yeah. Listen, I'm calling to say

congratulations on your script.

DONALD (PHONE VOICE)

Isn't that cool? Jerry says he can make

me, like, high-sixes against a mill-five.

KAUFMAN

That's great, Donald.

DONALD (PHONE VOICE)

I want to thank you for all your help.

KAUFMAN

I wasn't any help.

DONALD (PHONE VOICE)

C'mon, you let me stay in your place and

your integrity inspired me to even try.

KAUFMAN

Well, look, I've been thinking, maybe

you'd be interested in hanging out with

me in New York for a few days.

DONALD (PHONE VOICE)

Oh my God, yes! I'm flattered!